Extra police officers have been drafted into town after violence rose in the wake of a cheap drink promotion.

Jumpin Jaks, in Lockmeadow, Barker Road, Maidstone, is selling drinks, including shots and alcopops, for 80p before 11pm on a Friday night.

Neighbouring nightclub Liquid and Envy, run by the same management company, is selling drinks for £1 before midnight.

Club manager Julian Holyoake insists the move is a responsible way to provide good value, saying that door prices of £2 in Jumpin Jaks and £3 in Liquid and Envy, balance the amount customers are spending.

He said: “The important thing is how you control the venue and how you control the people.”

Mr Holyoake is adamant there has been no increase in trouble inside the venues, and the promotion is nothing unusual.

However, last weekend Maidstone police drafted in five extra police officers on overtime after seeing an increase in violence in Barker Road, near Lockmeadow, the previous week.

During the early hours of Friday, August 16, three people were attacked in the area in seemingly unrelated incidents.

Chief Inspector Ian Hall, borough commander for Maidstone, said: “We work closely with licensees and other agencies to make sure that sufficient resources are in place to cope with the demands of the night time economy.

“We would urge club management to think carefully about the possible effects of pricing drinks in a way that could not only damage the health of its customers, but also have a real impact on the levels of alcohol-associated anti-social behaviour.

“Where we identify a problem we will take early intervention to ensure that it doesn’t escalate and provide additional patrols.”

Paul Alcock, the chairman of Maidstone night time economy forum, is concerned the move may prompt a price war.

He said: “Everyone is trying for the same pound. It is not going to do Maidstone any favours if it leads to a pricing war.

“The town is in a precarious position if lots of people are being plied with cheap booze.”

Author Helen Tirbutt, whose book Beat The Booze raises money for alcohol-related charities, said cheap booze did not help with increasing binge drinking.

She said: “Alcohol is a drug and one of the most dangerous drugs. People do not realise how easy it is to become an addict.”

Tony Williams, of the Kenward Trust, a charity based in Yalding for people suffering from drug and alcohol misuse, said: “We, along with other agencies in Maidstone and West Kent, are using valuable resources in addressing problems related to alcohol abuse.

“The actions of Liquid and Envy in enticing customers with substantially reduced alcoholic drinks will only compound the problems young people are already experiencing.

“I would urge them to think of other ways to attract customers.”

Club-goer Chris Smith, 24, from Vinters Park, said: “This promotion is great and it is up to the individual to decide how much they want to drink. I will not necessarily drink more, but instead will be able to go out every weekend in the month as opposed to just one or two.”

Mr Holyoake said this had been backed up by figures from the club’s tills that showed most people were still drinking an average of four or five drinks a night despite the promotion.